Wrench



Jan. 6. 1925 1,521,949

. E. S. HAWKES WRENCH Filed July 21. 1923 Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

ESTES S. I-IAWKES, O'F DRUMMOND, IDAHO.

WRENCH.

Application filed July 21, 1923. Serial No. 652,955.

To aZZculwm it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, Es'rEs S. HAWKES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Drummond', in the county of Fremont and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vrenches, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches, and the primary object is to provide a wrench utilizing the wedge principle for operating the movable jaw, and

so constructed that it may be successfully held and operated by one hand of a user, at the same time securing a positive and accurate adjustment on whatever article it is desired to grip. I

A further object is to provide a wrench of the above character which will be more serviceable than wrenches now in common use, being adapted for turning or holding any kind of nuts or bolts, and especially well constructed for holding or turning pipes.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and in which drawings;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved wrench showing the jaws opened.

Figure 2 is a similarview, showing the movable jaw in cross section and in a closedposition.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section ofthe jaw head taken substantially on'the line 3-8 of Figure 2.

Figure at is a transverse section on the line 4;4c of Figure 1, and,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the slide wedge members of the adjusting mechanism which operates the movable jaw.

In the drawings where similar characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which drawings, the letter A indicates the 'main' bodyportion of the improved wrench having a handle B, a fixed jaw C, opposite the handle B, and an intermediate portion D; E indicates the movable or pivoted jaw; and F, the adjusting mechanism therefor.

Referring now to the main body portion A, it preferablyhas a handle or hand grip B which may be of any desired shape or size.

have a series of teeth or serrations 11 formed on its inner face to provide a good gripping surface. Disposed between fixed jaw C and the handle B is the intermediate portion D which may have a longitudinal slot 12 therethrough, having the confronting faces of the lower portion thereof providing rack members 13 and 14. The 0pposite or upper end of this slot 12 may be enlarged as at 15, said enlarged portion defining a shoulder 16 fora purpose to be subsequently set forth.

' The movable jaw E is pivoted to the main body portion A by suitable device, as by a rivet 17, and has a head 18 formed substantially the same as the head 10 of the fixed jaw C, said head provided with teeth or serrations 19 on its inner face. This movable jaw E is bifurcated to provide a pair of spaced arcuate extensions 20 and 21, which overlie opposite sides'of the main body portion A. These arcuate extensions 20 and 21 are formed by having a gradually increasing radii from the axis of pivot 17. Near the marginal edge 22 and in each eonfronting face 23 and 24 of the respective extensions 20 and 21 is formed an arcuate channel or groove 25 which follows the contour of the arcuate extensions and for a purpose to be subsequently set forth.

Referring now to the adjusting mechanism F, it preferably comprisesa stein or adjusting rod 26 which is adapted to be slidably disposed in the longitudinal slot 12 of the intermediate portion D. Suitable retaining strips 27 may be positioned on opposite sides of the intermediate portion D in order to prevent the displacement of therod 26. Revolubly mounted upon one end of the rod 26 is an externally screw threaded member 28 in meshing relation with the rack members 13 and 14, and adapted to move longitudinally therein. Carried by the opposite end of-the rod 26 is the slide wedge 29 which preferably includes a pair of spaced companion slide wedge members 30 and 31 which are adapted to overlie opposite sides of the main body portion A, each member preferably having a leg or extension 32 thereon to At the opposite end thereof is the fixed aw C including a head 10 which may] inner face 3 1 of the members 30 and 31 are" concaved so as to be of substantially the same contour as the arcuate extensions 20' and 21 and in abutting relation therewith; The lower end of each of these concave faces 34: terminates in a lug 35 which is adapted to extend'beyond the slot 12 and further facilitates in retaining and guiding the slide wedge 29 onthe main body portion. In

order to facilitate inassembling-the slide wedge 29 on the mam body portion A,'the companion slide wedge member 31 is detachably secured to the member 30 by suitable device, such as a screw 36. Intermediate the members 30 and 31 and'extending beyond the concav'efaces 34Lis a'stem 3'7 and a. head 38 thereon, said head including a pair of oppositely extending arms'39 which are adapted to be positioned in the arcuate channels or grooves 25 formed'in the confronting faces 23 and 24 of the extensions 20 and 21 respectively.

In operation,if it isdesired to open the jaws and 18 for the reception of a pipe or other article, the 'mem ber 28 is rotated so as to move toward the handle B on the rack members 13- and 14;. At the same time the rod 26 and the slide wedge 29 will move downwardly. The arms 39 of the head 38 being secured to the slide wedge 29 and positioned in the arcuate grooves 25 will cause the extensions and 21 to move inwardly and the jaw head 18 to swing outwardly and in an opened position. It can readily'be seen thatthe head will be prevented fromclosing, unless the movable member 28 is rotated, due to the fact that the arms 39 extend into the grooves 25 and limit its movement. When it is desired to close the jaws, the movable member 28 is moved toward the jaws, on the rock members 13 and 145, thereby transmitting sliding movement to the slide wedge members 30 and 31. The concave faces 34 of these members are in abutting relation with the arcuate extensions 20 and 21, and hence will cause a sliding motion and the pivoted jaw E will be moved toward the stationary jaw C. It will be obvious that the wedge member 29 will lock the pivoted E against any backward movement.

From the foregoing it-can be seen that an improved wrench has been provided which is constructed in a novel manner, easy to operate, and accurate adjustment quickly obtained.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: 1. A wrench comprising a bar forming a body and having one end provided with a stationary jaw, a movable jaw pivotally connected with said bar 111 operative relation to said statlonary aw and having an elongated heel extension disposed with its major axis longitudinally of the bar and having an arcuate inner longitudinal edge face, a wedge member slidably carried by said bar for movement longitudinal-1y thereof and having-a curved forward face conforming to the curvature of the arcuate inner longitudinal edgeiface of said movable jaw and contacting :therewith, and means for moving said wedge longitudinally upon said bar; to bring the arcuateedge; face of the wedge into-engagement with the arcuate edge face of the movable jaw and imparting swinging movement to the movable jaw.

2. A wrench comprising a bar forming a body .and having one end provided with a stationarylj' aw, a movable jaw piv'otally con nectedwithsaid bar in operative relation to said stationary jaw and having an elongated heel extension disposed with its major axis longitudinallyo-f the bar and having an arcuate inner longitudinal edge face, a wedge member slidablycarr-ied' by said bar for movement longitudinally thereof and having one of the wedge faces in contact with the arcuate edge face thereof, said wedge being slidably connected with the heel portion of said movablejaw, and means for imparting movementto said wedge 1on gitudinally of'the bar for moving the movable jaw towards and away from the stationary jaw.

3. A wrench-comprising an elongated main body portion including a handle, a fixed jaw at its end opposite said handle, and an intermediate portion a jaw pivotally carried by said'main body ,portion'foi cooperation with said fixed jaw, said jaw including air-arcuate extension having an arcuate groove in one face near-the marginal edge thereof, and an adjusting mechanism carried by said main body portion including a slide wedge whose inner face is of concave formation, anda head formed on said wedge and extending beyond its con cave face adapted to; fit in said arcuate groove, whereby when said adjusting mechanismis operated the pivoted jaw will move toward or from said fixed 4. A ;wrench comprising an elongated main body portion including a handle, a fixed jaw at its'end opposite said handle, and an intermediate portion, a jaw pivotally carried by said main body portion for cooperation with said fixed aw, said jaw including a pair of spaced arcuate extensions adapted to overlie opposite sides of said main body portion, each confronting face of said extension having an arcuate groove near its marginal edge, and an adjusting mechanism carried by said main body portion including a pair of spaced companion slide wedge members adapted to overlie opposite sides of said main body portion, said slide wedge members having their inner faces concavedand in abutting relation with said 1 arcuate extensions, and a head intermediate said slide wedge members and extending beyond the concave faces adapted to fit in said arcuate grooves, whereby when said adjust-- ing mechanism is operated the pivoted jaw Will move toward or from said fixed jaw.

ESTES S. HAWKES. 

